SJ Villas in the Press

News and Press from SJ Villas

Conde Nast Traveller April 2018

COCCOLOBA

Mustique Coccoloba is an elegant hilltop villa inspired by the architectural stylings of designer Oliver Messel. The gorgeous lounges and decked areas ooze colonial style, while the formal dining room has spectacular views across the island to the ocean. The master bedroom pavilion has its own plunge pool, while the other three bedrooms are in the spacious guest pavilion. The property comes with its own cinema, butler and cook. A week from
£15,550; 020 7531 6384, sjvillas.co.uk

Redi House is actually in Maharashtra state, a few miles beyond the boundaries of North Goa. This private beach house is what Goa looked like 30 years ago and is as stylish as a SoHo loft. Interiors by Alice von Baum include free-standing copper bathtubs and big, bold photographic art. Keen cooks will find a full kitchen while Goan thalis can be ordered in. The house opens out to a sandy garden of frangipani and hammocks. A path leads down to a deserted cove, and just across a creek the endless sands of Shiroda Beach. Don't miss Redi Fort, just around the corner, a spectacular vine-strangled 17th-century ruin. Sleeps up to six. From about f1,130 per night .

Villa Lumière, St Tropez
Whizz across the waters in your speedboat while staying at this elegant four-bedroom villa high in the hills above St Tropez. Recently refurbished with wooden floors, contemporary lighting and updated bathrooms, it has a Zen-inspired feel, with the occasional Buddha and water feature. The outdoor space is particularly lovely with numerous terraces. A winding stone staircase in the extensive gardens leads to a heated pool with superb views of the bay of St Tropez. The coast is a 20-minute drive away.
Details A week for six to eight people costs from £2,900 (020 7351 6384, sjvillas.co.uk). Boat hire is £340 plus fuel and skipper a day

"A little further south, between Ribeira and Pobra do Caramirial, on the north side of the Ria de Arousa, lies another remarkable property, Castro Baroña. Designed by architect Iliaki Leite in a take-no-prisoners modernist style, it has vast sliding-glass windows that show off the water in widescreen. The house is filled with hand-crafted wonders: furniture and shutters made of eucalyptus wood upcycled from bateas (mussel-farming platforms), leather door handles, and steel staircases made by local artisans. It was thrilling to pad around, nosing into concrete-clad bedrooms, and then potter along the tiny beach below the house. "

"After four days here I was closer to understanding why people wax lyrical about the Rim, but it was during my last stay, at the Areas Beach House, a big villa outside Sanxenxo, that everything came into focus. It is owned by Sagra Maceira, a London-based gallega who used to work for Manolo Blahnik and has been coming to Sanxenxo all her life. Areas is perched on a slope, with gardens and balconies staring directly out to the Atlantic, and sunsets that are a fiesta of blazing colour. The house is Galicia-meets-the-Hamptons, a breezy mix of primary colours on a back-ground of dazzling white."

Set on a shoulder of rock, perched high above the mighty Gironde estuary, this delightful villa is surrounded by water on three sides and has an overwhemling sense of privacy. Add a tunnel, recently cut through the rock, directly to the huge Atlantic beach and a sense of adventure and possibility gripped us as soon as we arrived...

The once-sleepy village of Trancoso has become Brazil’s favoured destination
for international haute-bohemians.

Golden hour is one of nature’s most enchanting experiences; apply this magic to an exquisite stretch of coastline in Brazil’s Bahia region and it’s the closest you will get to the archetypal depiction
of paradise.

SJ Villas Adds Three New Homes in the laid-back chic Brazilian Village Trancoso

13 September 2017: Known as the most undiscovered paradise in Brazil, Trancoso has become an aspirational holiday destination in recent years for discerning, international travellers. London-based, award-winning company, SJ Villas, has added three new properties to its exclusive collection of hand-picked homes, as the remote village’s white-sand, semi-deserted beaches is fast becoming the place to be this New Year’s Eve.

With an infinity pool that stretches into the sea, lush green gardens and light, breezy interiors, you know this tropical retreat will get you off to a good start. Scuba diving, zip-wiring and sailing await you on the beach, while the lively bars of Jolly Harbour are only ten minutes' walk away. Aptly named, the villa is situated on the western side of the island, meaning that you'll be treated to a spectacular sunset each evening. sjvillas.co.uk

CITADELS OF LUXURY
Perfect Villas for Every Season & Mood

Fern Close - Breathe in the exotic, Cape Town
Ease into luxury with adoring staff Ephraim and Catherine, a couple who reflect the villa’s unique personality and charm. Their warm
welcome provides a perfect place to begin your vacation in storied Cape Town. Located at the end of a cul-de-sac and equipped with
an ADT security system, Ephraim will drive you anywhere you wish to go. A stunning mountain view, poolside terrace and barbeque
sit steps away from a veranda with an outdoor fireplace. The space feels like a living room and will not only help you unwind upon
arrival but will undoubtedly be a touchstone for charting Cape Town fun as well as your future hopes and dreams. Guests will find the
luxury accommodations equally breathtaking. A touch of the colonial and tribal flavour the appointments and furnishings throughout
the estate. Light and airy, the villa is an invitation to expand the senses and awareness. It invites you to breathe in the exotic.
Extravagant appointments include exquisite chandeliers, china and luxurious bedding will make anyone feel like a king or queen.

Groups - The gang's all here

Casa del Rio, Guadalmina

A good choice for groups who prefer rural rather than Urban pleasures, this house sits in a peaceful spot beside the Guadalmina River, on the Goldsmith's private family estate. Used by the family as a villa for guests, the house has five bedrooms, furnished with spanish antiques, a traditional tiled kitchen and extensive grounds, with sprawling manicured lawns and a good ized pool. The roof terrace, dotted with day beds, is the perfect spot for cocktails.

Essential Tuscany

Summering in a Tuscan Villa is a classic British pursuit. As a result a thriving rental industry has grown up, much of it based in the UK. There are plenty of pricey luxury properties, but good-value ones, too, especially when they are shared by a group. Villa agencies with local expertise include... SJ Villas which features the boho I Limoni near Lucca ( sleeps 10, From £2590 a week )

50 family Holidays

France's favourite holiday island spoils you for choice with long sandy beaches - and because there is so little traffic on the pine covered paradise off the west coast, its ideal for children looking for a little independence; they can safely cycle around. For the most memorable beaches head to the far west - to Conche des Baleines, a vast crescent of golden sand, and the less known and mroe protected Trousse- Chemise, great for rock pooling. Both are fringed with pine woods that make ideal picnic spots. Miles of dune backed beaches offering good bodyboarding run along the south coast. Get a tide timetable, the beaches shrink to thin and, in place, overcrowded strips at high tide. But Beaches are just part of the Îl de Ré appeal. There are beautifule preserved villages, gourmet food markets, a striking landscape of salt pans, marshes and vinyards, and you can explore everywhere by bike on the miles of cycle lanes.

Its all Greek to me.

Our villa - in an ancient olive grove near the island's sheltered southern coast - was on a lush lip of land between the sea and the mountains which selflessly trap the passing clouds around their peaks.

Travel: 20 Great villas in the Med.

La Quinta, Andalucia

You get the best of the old and the new at this hillside retreat. Built round a central octagonal tower, this 18th century style manor has lime washed walls, reclaimed Moorish tiles and baked clay tiles complimented by contemporary furnishings.

Cape Floral House

Bainskloof, SA

For those who like their luxury a little rustic, Cape Floral House
offers total high-altitude silence – aside from the croaks of the
native frogs. Set in a 2,500- hectare reserve, this beamed cottage is a stylish way to return to the wild. After watching the sun dip below the mountains, take a seat by the fire to sip the local grain whisky.

Our gold-plated skiing trip

A perfect Alpine mini-break

My wife Caroline and I wanted to do something special to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary and a mini-break at Chalet Abode in the French Alpine village of Villarabout was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Just getting three days alone together, given that we usually have our hands full with four young children, was a treat in itself. But this was like being catapulted into a different universe. From the moment we arrived at Geneva airport, where a purring Mercedes was there to meet us, until we were dropped back at the airport three days later, we were cocooned in luxury. Usually, it’s us doing the looking after, so to be pampered was almost comically pleasant. Throughout our stay, Caroline and I kept looking at each other and laughing at the sheer giddy pleasure of it all.

Villarabout is a few minutes’ drive from St Martin de Belleville, which has to rank as one of the most charming resorts in the Alps. A former commune in the Savoie, it boasts a three-Michelin-star restaurant in the form of La Bouitte — a honeypot for Russian plutocrats, who chopper in every night at peak season — and was the setting for 120 Days of Sodom by the Marquis de Sade. What makes it particularly attractive, however, is that is it is part of Les Trois Vallées, the 600km ski area that stretches from Courchevel to Val Thorens.

To book a holiday at Chalet Abode, contact Judy Menier at SJ Villas on 020 7351 6384 or visit www.sjvillas.co.uk. Prices from £875 per person for seven nights including daily breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner (6 nights), based on 8 people sharing.

A place of your own....

Best for a large group - 17th-century farm house in Puglia.

Gather a group of your favourite freinds for a stay at the beautifully restored Masseria Petrarolo. This 17th-century farm house has refined interiors created by British designer Alexander Waterworth, plus lavender-filled terraced gardens, olive groves and orchards. Accommodating up to 18 adults plus 2 children, facilities at the villa include a tennis court, play area, hammam, swimming pool and spacious terrace.

Digs of the Week

Southern Sri Lanka is lush and green all year, but in the wet season rice paddies rustle with the ripened crop and everyone is practically horizontal with the humidity. This is where Charlie and Tweenie Wrey, a couple from Wiltshire, chose to build their home, The Tea House, on land they bought in 2009.

The seven-bedroom house is on the crest of a hill that overlooks their tea plantation, where generations of pluckers have lived and worked for many years. It has been built in the traditional Sri Lankan style with high, vaulted ceilings and an enormous, open-sided living room. Every nook and cranny is flooded with sunshine, fresh air and the happy, whooping sound of spotted doves.

The bedrooms have been kept smart but simple, with just a few key pieces of furniture: four-poster beds draped with mosquito nets, rattan planter's chairs and hardwood benches and, in the master bedroom, a beautiful towering bookcase found in a local antiques shop. The bathrooms follow the same 'out in the air is better' philosophy as the living area: a shower cascades down a pile of rocks like a waterfall, and there's a deep, claw-foot bath tub on one of the balconies.

This is a real sanctuary away from the whirl of Galle and Unawatuna beach, which are just a crazy dash of a tuk-tuk ride away. Days here should be cherished and spent doing nothing more than lying by the L-shaped infinity pool listening out for the tinny sound of Mozart playing from the local bread van as it trundles along on its afternoon delivery run.
KEYNOTE Ask the chef to cook hoppers - a rice pancake that can be filled with eggs or curry - for breakfast on the terrace.

THE CAPE ESCAPE

The great city of Cape Town is renowned as an incredible coastal destination,
but it never hurts to venture out for some elevated respite. Luxe-villa operator SJ Villas recently
unveiled this remote rental in the Bastiaanskloof Valley, set on a 6,000-acre private nature reserve,
just a 90-minute drive from the city. The single-storey stone cottage may have a humble façade but
it’s what’s inside that counts – such as the French oak-panelled kitchen, the large fireplace in the
cosy living room and a sheltered courtyard for al fresco dining. The pool and barbecue area boast
incredible views over the surrounding terrain and guests will have their fifth sense tickled with
the aroma wafting in from the herb gardens and herbs and indigenous fynbos plants. The rental
cottage is snug enough but the Bastiaanskloof estate and nature reserve is home to more than 800
different plants, 200 bird species and some 50 mammals, so there’s plenty to explore; try spotting
a Chacma baboon, Cape grysbok antelope or perhaps even a mountain leopard while you hike,
cycle or canter over nearby trails.

World’s Sexiest Villas

Stay in a Sri Lankan Tea House

In the hills outside Galle, Sri Lanka’s second largest city, SJ Villas have just opened a 18th century tea house surrounded by tropical gardens and with views over the working tea fields to the Indian Ocean. A lily pond and the L-shaped infinity pool overlook the jungle, and the in-house chef is on-hand to cook up Sri-Lankan delights. A stay costs from £1,236 per night based on 12 people sharing. The beach house costs an additional £378 per night. sjvillas.co.uk

Putting on the Biarritz

"Classic Beaches
Ever since Napoleon III built a villa for his wife here, this majestic city has been a glamourous getaway for royalty, filmstars and latterly shaggy-haired surfers"

"Ocean View is a fabulous 6 bedroom house in the local basque architectural style.... Like an increasing umber of the traditional Basque houses in the area it has recently been restored and reinvented as a glamourous holiday home."

Luxury villas in Ibiza

Can Tara
Spacious, modern and stylish, Can Tara stands in the hills behind Benirras beach and is surrounded by gardens and woodland. It features a green-tiled infinity pool, outside dining for 20 and a barbecue. A Sonos sound system runs thorughout the property.

Sleeps 12 in six bedrooms and have availability throughout the summer. It costs €24,000 per week through sjvillas.co.uk.

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The best holiday villas in Spain for summer 2016

Spain’s largest and most southerly region, Andalucia, is home to some of the country’s most recognisable beach resorts like Marbella and Almeria. But venture even a small distance inland and you are transported to tranquil rural scenes. SJ Villas (sjvillas.co.uk) has just added the stylishly decorated La Quinta, which is set on a private estate 10 minutes from the pretty village of Gaucin. The 18th-century manor house, which sleeps up to 10, is built around a central octagonal tower and has been painstakingly renovated with salvaged materials and antiques. There’s a pool, beautiful views and a maid service. One week starts at £2,000.

Best of Italy

Sunday Times readers voted Italy their favourite European destination, but over 13 pages we think we can show you even more reasons to love it. Mia Aimaro Ogdenmaps out 6 sublime breaks in the countries prettiest parts

Casa Viva in Trancoso, Brazil

Right on the beach, a 10 minute drive from Trancoso, Casa Viva offers the most heavenly rustic-chic beach experience. While it is pricey, it comforatbly sleeps 12 so if you go with a group of friends it's suprisingly affordable. The casa has been modelled on a traditional local village, with four thatched buildings all either open-sided or with big windows and linked by decked walkways, set within beautiful palm-filled gardens. At the centre of it all is an open sided thatched communal living sapce with vaulted ceiling, ideal for early evening caipirinhas and barbequed prawns. Then there are two houses, each with three large bedrooms and three bathrooms, and a final house with a kitchen, dining room and bar. between are multiple places to lounge, from long sofas and hammocks to day beds and cushions laid out in shady spots by a maid each morning. There is also a little massage cabana, and a basic barraquinha on the beach to retreat to when you need a repite from the sun.

This weeks dream destination and what to wear when you get there.

Chateau de la Goujeonnerie in the Vendée France. All the best romances involve a castle and rest assured this chic chateau will sate and Sleeping Beauty fantasy. The six blush-hued suites are all bathed in hazy sunshine and filled with Marie Antoinette-style curiosities. Stretch out by the pool for the best biew of the circular turrets rising up from the enchanted forest nearby.

PARADISE Found - A postcard-perfect hideaway in sightly Sri Lanka

On the sandy white, palm-fringed
shores of southern Sri Lanka rests SJ Villas’ Nerissa House, a colonial-style manor with immaculately manicured gardens, a romantic infinity pool and a majestic terrace built for lazy afternoons languishing in the tropical air. Inside, splashes of bright orange, pink and red are a playful contrast to the villa ’s Victorian-era, dark wood outfittings. With the added bonus of an in-house library and home cinema, it would be hard not fall in love with this intimate, beachside milieu – a scene that’d be hard to replicate elsewhere

Luxury private villa operator SJ Villas has introduced an ultra-lavish cliff top residence in the north eastern Brazilian state of Bahia.

Situated just five minutes’ walk from a pristine local beach, Villa Altos features six bedrooms with en suite facilities, two-bedroom guesthouses. two kitchens as well as a breakfast area and spacious living room.

Sleeping 12 people, the villa comes with a live-in housekeeper, two maids and a chef, while the bedrooms, which boast white linens and white washed walls, open on to their own wooden terraces.

The property’s French owners have decorated the house with the use of natural fabrics in muted tones, aged wooden shutters, wooden basins, locally crafted details and clean lines.

A large garden has palm-fringed lawns, green-tiled pool with outdoor shower and shady pergola-covered day bed.

A main square lined with shops and cafés is a five minute drive away and Porto Seguro Airport is an hour and a half drive.

The Worlds Top 100.

Four of the best places to stay on the Il de Re

If real sand between your toes is a priority, Les Bois Plage en Re - home to the island's best sandy beach - its the village for you. Should you also be looking for a house to which to dazzle nine of your closest friends consider the five-bedroom Villa du Couchant, a two minute walk through the dunes from the beach. Designed by one of the island's leading architects, Jean-Florian Leroy, this newly built house is a temple to both contemporary simplicity and mid-century modernism. It has a vast, exquistely furnished living/dining/kitchen space, sliding glass walls that open onto the garden and internal courtyard, futuristic in- and outdoor firelplaces, and a glorious outdoor pool that is heated from the begining of March to the end of November. With underfloor heating throughout this hosue is great year round, and the sheltered garden is a sun trap in spring and autumn. The village is also home to a lovely morning market between April and September.

Spain for the Luxury Traveller

SJ Villas has introduced two new villas in Andalucia, Spain. La Dehasa is situated in a 40 acre private mansion in Benahavis, which is a mountain village.
For a while now we have been thinking of a place to buy where we can spend the Summer and then commute back to our urban lives. This new luxury destination is another reminder how cool Spain is, both to vacation and live. This villa , from SJ Villas, in Andalucia is a private estate with views overlooking the countryside, sea and the coast of Africa.

On the beach in Goa there is many a hippie shack, but luxury houses are hard to come by. Villa operator SJ Villas has gone of the beaten track, 45 minutes north of trendy Ashwem Beach, to find newly built Redi House which is set among tradional village houses with a small path leading to desserted sands. The interiors are by designer Alice van Baum, and combine whitewashed walls, traditional wooden firniture and colonial-style day beds. There is a car and a driver on standby, as well as yoga tuition, a cook, a double kayak and paddleboard.

Masterpiece London 2015

Speaking to Sarah Hutchins, co-founder of SJ Villas, she highlighted the synergies between the public attending Masterpiece and the clientele of their business: “We feel that Masterpiece completely matches our brand image as the whole identity of the show exudes luxury and style, which is also reflected in the standard of the private houses we offer”. She went on to add that in her view, “Masterpiece has grown so strong in London that is now considered an integral part of the ‘season’ and being a Chelsea based company SJ Villas very much enjoy being part of that”.

The Beach House is built on Paraty Bay,
right on the shoreline of Brazil’s Cairuçu
Environmental Protection Area, overlooking
the clearest, bluest of seas, and can only
be accessed by boat. The skipper is always
on hand to take you for an isolated swim or
to deliver groceries, and there are two double
kayaks and a stand-up paddle board for local
adventures. The two-storey house, which is
27m wide on the lower level, has refreshingly
simple, clean lines and is mainly constructed
from local (sustainable) materials. Outside,
there’s plenty of wooden decking and a
verandah for slinging your hammock.
Paraty Bay Beach House sleeps seven and costs
from £2,765 to £3,640 per week, through
SJ Villas (020 7351 6384; sjvillas.co.uk)

As director Sir David Lean’s former holiday home, Moulin du Jardinier could well have been instrumental in inspiring greats like Doctor Zhivago or Lawrence of Arabia. It’s not difficult to imagine — heavy canopies of flowers hang over the pool,
and the vaulted ceilings of the
15th-century former mill house have been preserved indoors. Every corner of this Provençal palace is truly a treat.
British Airways flies to Nice from London Gatwick and London Heathrow

Turquoise Estate Villa, BVI

Sleeps Ten, five rooms

From £11,160 per week
This Virgin Gorda villa has great views over the Caribbean Sea. Go kayaking and snorkelling, enjoy an in-house massage or lounge on the beachside swing bed. Two neighbouring villas sharing a beach make up the whole of The Turquoise Estate.

Q. We’re trying to organise a family holiday to celebrate my father’s 60th birthday next summer. It’s a large group (eight adults and four kids under seven) and we would like somewhere that’s two to three hours’ flight from Glasgow, close to a town or village (we don’t want to have to hire a car to go out in the evenings) and ideally a private villa. Our budget is about £8,000.

A. You could book Casa Soller, a Modernista mansion in the centre of Soller with views of the Tramuntana mountains. It’s perfect for big families — there’s a home cinema and a gorgeous pool and garden — and while it’s in a quiet area of the town, it’s only a short stroll away from the plaza with its cafes, restaurants, shops and a little market. A week in August costs £6,950 through SJ Villas (020 7351 6384, sjvillas.co.uk).

Casa Vadella
Fans of modern design will fall in love with the gleaming white interiors. The three bedrooms keep to the sleek feel and theres an infinity pool around the lower level of the house. Its 500m to the beach.

Cas Vadim
Indulge in country-landowner fantasies at Cas Vadim; there are 500 acres of orchards and pine woods around the farm house, stretching down to a private rocky beach. Interiors in the five bedrooms match warm earthy tones and crisp white decor, and there is a small single room off the master suite that is perfect for a young child.

Casa Edouardo, Ronda, Andalucia
"Set in the heart of rural Spain, though looking like it could be fresh out of The Hamptons, Casa Edouardo is pared back elegaence at its best. Dont expect any of the high-tech ameneties on disply in other villas here. Rather, enjoy a well stocked library, an outrageously comfortable lounge space, a pool that oozes calm (with its own private bar) and grounds big enough to spend a day exploring. For a day trips Jerez and sherry country are just around the corner. Spend the morning learning (or fine tuning) horse riding skills, then settlrl down for fino tasting and lunch in one of the town's many tabancos."

"A London based company specialising in luxurious holiday homes around the world. The founders Sarah Hitchins and Judith Menier, help you select the perfect villa, and can organise anything from bicyles to cooks.

Pepper House, Jamaica
"A gorgeous colonial style house that just oozes glamour, Pepper House is on the edge of the renowned Round Hill Resort, meaning sports facilities, bars and restaurants are an easy stroll away. Surrounded by lush gardens the house has six sumptous bedrooms, and wonderful alfresco lounges, complete with pool table and classic rattan-style sofas, perfect for a gin and tonic as the sun sets over the pool."

Colinas del Mar, Andalucia, Spain
"Views don't come more spectacular than from the spacious tiled terrace at Colinas del Mar; the mountains of Morocco can clearly be seen across the straights of Gibralter. A traditional Andalucian country house, its ideal for active families, with its own tennnis court, golf courses on the doorstep, and an 11 meter infinity pool. Inside the house there is a real feeling of warmth, with traditional furnishings thoughout, and the tover room lined with crisp white window seats, is the icing on the cake.

Breathing space is a precious commodity on the Côte D’Azur, but the cliff-edge Villa Colline in Villefranche offers it in abundance. The chic 1960s pad, new to SJ Villas’ collection, sleeps 10 guests with million-dollar views – and you can
keep an eye on your yacht from the rooftop infinity pool.

"Best kept secret" is an overworked term, but you can find one hiding in a the pretty hilltop village of San Casciano dei Bagni: a tiny restaurant run by three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, serving visitors to the 11th-century castle, its chapel, and the residents of its five houses, all available to rent. Casa Meli is the biggest, with a pool, enviable tasetful decor and fabulous coutryside views.

"The infinity pool at this stylish villa makes the most of its spectacular location on a cliff's edge between Nice and Monaco, with sweeping views of the French Riviera. Bulit in the 1960's by the French Architect Andre Drouin, who designed the Chagall Museum in Nice, this five bedroom villa set over three floors has been given a chic makeover with furnishings in a minimalist style. A glass lift whisks you to the three floors, the top one opening onto an alfresco dining area with lovely views of the bay of Villefranche."

A charming villa and apartment rental company with excellent service (something thats hard to find in Rio!). Their apartment in Ipanema has a 60s/70s vibe. It is packed full of interesting art and fashion books and has a wall of windows overlooking the beach and the sea that is to die for.

Just off the little-visited west coast of Spain lies an idylic archipeligo of three islands Las Islas Cies, part of the Galician Atlantic Islands National Park and home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Spain. Apart from a campsite, there's nowhere to stay but new to the rental market this summer is Castro Barona, an architectural striking, award-winning four-bedroom beach house just across the water on the mainland. The wood, glass and concrete house is four minutes' drive from a little marina from which daily yacht charters to the islands can be arranged. An hour by road from Santiago di Compostela, the village is admirable equipped right down to a teppanyaki table and a Kaldewei "float therapy" bathtup.

Less touristy than the rest of Spain, Galicia in the north-west has wild beaches and sublime seafood. An hour from the Unesco World Heritage site of Santiago di Compostela, Castro Barona (named after celtic ruins in the area) is a high spec holiday home available to the UK market for the first time. With contemporary cube design combining wood (much of it recycled from bateas - wooden platforms used in the local mussel industry), concrete and glass - you would be right in thinking this looks like the work of an architect. Inaki Leite has won multiple awards for the design and energy efficiency - it holds the highest rating possible and has under floor heating and cooling system. Raw materials include untreated wood and rock.

High in the Umbrian hills 40 minutes from Perugia in central Italy, the designers Robbie Spina and Joe Zito have painstakingly restored a medieval building that in its time has served as a prison, a convent, a school and a hotel. Its latest incarnation is as the couple’s second home, a place to escape to from London where they run Spina, their business that creates handmade silk tassels, tie-backs, furniture, lighting and, most recently, jewellery.
‘We always wanted a place in Italy,’ Spina, who moved to Britain from Sardinia 20 years ago, says. ‘Although Joe was born and raised in Yorkshire both his parents are Italian, so it has a connection for both of us.’ They fell in love with the area when they visited friends six years ago. ‘Umbria is wilder and far cheaper than neighbouring Tuscany.’

SJ Villas has two new Brazilian properties. Choose from Casa Samba in Trancoso, on the coast of Bahia in the north-east, or The Plantation House, with room for 17, on an island in the Bay of Angra. The former has a pool, the latter a resident peacock. From £550/ £2,533 per night. sjvillas.co.uk

I thought I had my big, fat Greek honeymoon pretty gamed out: Let’s spend four nights fending for ourselves in a private villa in Corfu, where we’ll live like locals—grocery shopping at the market, cooking, swimming, zooming around in a rental car. Then we’ll fly to Santorini, where we’ll surrender for a week to the womb of a fancy hotel and not so much as boil a pot of water for ourselves. Sweet.

Built into the grassy cliffside on the north coast of Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, is Villa Jai. It's the ideal party house, with four double bedrooms (all with sea views) and an extra room that has four double-bed-sized bunks for children or very close friends to crash on. Punchy textiles stand out against the white walls, dark wood beams and pale stone floor in the open-plan kitchen-living room-dance floor.

On standby is a cook who can whip up meals and get the barbecue going for parties, and a massage therapist is just a phone call away the morning after a big night for detoxing mini-treatments. Alternatively, you can swim it off in the slim infinity pool that overlooks the small, golden beach at Trunk Bay (reached by steps from the villa), which is an excellent surf spot.

From US$6,775 per week for eight people; for more details contact SJ Villas (www.sjvillas.co.uk)

Clean white lines are the MO at Villa Piccolo, above Valinco bay. The bedrooms are downstairs: upstairs, an open-plan living room looks out onto a long deck. A short walk through the trees brings you to the beach, but chances are you will spend most of your time in the infinity pool.

This can be a bit of a gamble, so the key here is to trust your villa agent or operator and to shop around. I have experienced rentals where you were not allowed to touch the washing machine unsupervised, and others where a relationship has been built on mutual trust. With regard to the Algarve, the advantage of villas in Quinta do Lobo or Vale do Lobo is the support structure, with good shops and delis, an excellent range of restaurants from simple to Michelin-starred, good beaches with water sports and great golf courses. Rather more Californian than Portugese in feel, it does offer something for everyone - the sine qua non for a family holiday.

Expert tips
SJ Villas offers the Casa dos Flores, near Lagos. A family home, furnished with antiques and equipped with a tennis court and swimming pool amid lush, bougainvillea-filled gardens, this sleeps 12 and costs £5,166 per week

Well worth a detour if you are in Salvador in Southern Bahai is Casa Quadrado. Sleeping eight, its set high on a bluffoverlooking the breathtaking beaches of Trancoso. Hidden down a leafy street behind the town's square, fringed by brightly coloured bars and restauarnts, luxury villa specialist SJ Villas is introducing it to the UK market for the first time. Excelling in rustic chic, indoor and outdoor living spaces combine with whitewashed walls, white furnishings and lots of tropical plants, hammocks and wooden decking set around an infinity pool.

The Quadrado is Trancoso's beating heart - a grassy square and home to the Sao Joao Batista Church. It comes alive at night with capoeira dancers, impromptu football matches and strolling locals. This four-suite house is just off it, near enough to feel part of the action but far enough to not be disturbed. It has a spacious feel, thanks to an indoor/outdoor living area and furniture made by local craftsmen. There's a pool with loungers and the beach is a five-minute walk.

Acquired by the people behind Shoreditch’s quirky Les Trois Garcons restaurant in 2006, this enchanted French chateau lies less than an hour from La Rochelle. With no less than three fairy-tale turrets, its flamboyant architecture is matched by the whimsical decor: pastel paints, stuffed horse heads, anatomical models and spiral staircases. The castle sleeps sixteen guests (and up to 19 more in the annex buildings), with plenty of room to entertain in the library, conservatory, two kitchens, mirrored dining room, gym, sauna and several drawing rooms. One can swiftly be transformed into a disco room, with decks, lights, gold banquettes and smoke machines at the ready. And that’s just inside; outdoors, make use of the heated pool, two terraces, lake and 18 acres of grounds.
A week costs from around £1,560 a person, based on 16 sharing; with the annex buildings, the cost is from £1,000 a person a week, based on 35 sharing, with SJ Villas (020 7351 6384).

Fishing in Corsica
Take advantage of the warm sunshine that floods Corsica right through October and pair lazy days on the beach with fishing for trout in September and tuna, albacore and swordfish until the end of October. The Domaine de Murtoli is a sprawling country estate with a dozen farmhouses of different sizes, two restaurants and three kilometers of unspoilt sandy beaches.

It is being rented for the first time through SJ Villas. Once again the English have shown they are the most sophisticated travellers. The selection of houses, offered by this company is quite simply exceptional. They could have been the principal subject of this article for any of their other villas in the Med, Morocco, Brasil or Thailand.

The Beach House West Sussex
A bucket and spade break with buckets of style. The Beach House is Sussex coast meets the Hamptons, with a large decked area that opens out right on to the beach. There are two outdoor hot tubs for sunset soaks, while inside the crisp cream decor and light wood shutters and furniture create a chic, contemporary feel. Five bedrooms and five bathrooms ensure there is plenty of space for everyone, and theres sailing, tennis and the small village of Angmering-on-Sea all within walking distance.

Brave Retreats - From Corfu to Morocco these choice idylls will take you back to nature.

Villa Iriti - Corfu.
Upon discovering the ruins of a fishermans cottage on Corfu's northeast coast British painter Gail Arnold spent two years renovating the property. Set among olive groves and pine forests, Villa Iriti is designed with light interiors and a kitchen adorned with a country stove for autumn evenings. Ionian beaches and huddles of tavernas in the village of Rou are nearby.

Ocean View Villa, Biarritz.
The owner of this 19th-century Basque villa describes the style as 'West Wittering meets West France'. He is also the owner of The Goring Hotel in London, so he knows what he's doing when it comes to creating indulgent places to stay.

From its clifftop vantage point there are views out across the Atlantic Ocean from all over the place: from the French farmhouse beds through the floor-to-ceiling windows, from the free-standing tubs in the bathrooms, from the heated infinity pool and the gardens and open-air dining terrace.

The villa is actually just outside Biarritz in the little village of Bidart, which has its own restaurants and weekly market in the village square. But the beaches are the thing here - long, wide, sandy, and with some of the best breakers in Europe for surfing and playing in, and reached from the house down a little path.

La Civettaia, Tuscany
The home of racehorse trainer Luca Cumani, La Civettaia is near the Tuscan villages of Castel Falfi and Ghizzano; Siena, Pisa and the seaside resort of Forte dei Marmi are all accessible. Once derelict, the property was restored to its original state after its 2003 purchase and its interiors feature furniture by local craftsmen and an imposing mural by artist Scott Wilson.

Sleeps: 10 adults and two children in five bedrooms
Costs: From £4,500 per week

By Caribbean standards, Bequia is quite large - the largest of the Grenadine islands, at least - with a wealth of restaurants and buzzy bars in the capital Port Elizabeth, two museums (one for whaling, for which the island is known), and two mountains, with walking trails.

It is still, however, a relatively wild place, with deserted bays and golden beaches protected by staggering headlands from the elements; the surf is fierce, making it ideal for water sports.

Bay View is up on the hillside overlooking Hope Bay on the east of the island. Made for entertaining, the six-bedroom villa has a professional-sized kitchen and spacious lounge. There's an infinity pool and access to the beach at Hope Bay.

If your summer plans include an escape for two to somewhere sunnyand idyllic, SJ Villas has added the beautifully relaxed Villa Iriti in Corfu to its books. This romantic retreat on the islands north-east coast has recently been renovated by its London- based owner and now offers a spacious air-conditioned bedroom, lined with French windows for beuatifiul sea views and complete with super-king sized bed. The luxury living space has a seperate kitchen and dining area, and there are several terraces, an outdoor eating area, a barbeque and swimming pool. The location is equally striking. Set in olive groves with a landscaped garden by Jennifer Gay, the villa is just a 15 minute drive to Agni beach with its excellent tavernas, and 50 minutes along the coast road to the airport.

If your summer plans include an escape for two to somewhere sunnyand idyllic, SJ Villas has added the beautifully relaxed Villa Iriti in Corfu to its books. This romantic retreat on the islands north-east coast has recently been renovated by its London- based owner and now offers a spacious air-conditioned bedroom, lined with French windows for beuatifiul sea views and complete with super-king sized bed. The luxury living space has a seperate kitchen and dining area, and there are several terraces, an outdoor eating area, a barbeque and swimming pool. The location is equally striking. Set in olive groves with a landscaped garden by Jennifer Gay, the villa is just a 15 minute drive to Agni beach with its excellent tavernas, and 50 minutes along the coast road to the airport.

Baron Island
Once a royal hunting estate, Baron Island is the largest of four volcanic islands inside Mar menor, a secluded lagoon near the anciant port of Cartagena. Now a private island that is occassionally available for hire, most of its 220 acres are a nature and wildlife reserve consisting of four peaks which have panoramic views, while there are several small beaches along the coastline.

Stay: There are three places to stay, which are normally hired together: a five story, three bedroom converted watch tower designed by Frank Lloyed Wright, a four-bed cottage and three-bed old Chapel. Seven nights self catering is from €10 000 for 14 people .

Mythic paradise. Privacy and charm come together in a hilltop villa in Corfu.

Off the northwestern edge of Greece, Corfu has seduced everyone from Poseidon, who, so the storty goes, named the island for the nymph Korkyra, to twentieth-century writers Lawrence and Gerald Durrel...

Among the Palm House's full-time staff are two masseuses, two Thai chefs, a resident barman and an executive chef. The villa sleeps up to 20, in 10 villas. Price From $5,000 (about £3,100) per night, including breakfast and daily maid service. Contact sjvillas.co.uk.

Conde Nast Traveller - February 2013
The hottest new rentals in Europe

Villa du Couchant, Ile de Ré
Sleeps 10

The French have got the right idea, taking off the whole of August and disappearing somewhere sunny and beachy - and the Ile de Ré is France's favourite holiday island.

It's not exactly short of lovely places to rent (and there are four fabulous new properties for this year), but new Villa du Couchant is something quite special: big, airy, open-plan modern spaces with cool, pared-down interiors, designed by a local architect. Oversized windows slide right back to open up the indoors to the outdoors, and it's got a big outdoor dining space plus a suspended fireplace for chillier evenings. A short walk away, along a little path through the pine forests, is Bois Plage, one of the nicest beaches on an island of very nice beaches indeed, a stretch of sand big enough to ride horses along.

The same rental company, SJ Villas, has an additional two properties on the Ile de Ré new for this summer; both also sleeping 10.

Conde Nast Traveller - February 2013
The hottest new rentals in Europe

Villa Iriti

A painter from London, on yet another trip to her beloved Corfu, found an old ruin on a hillside above the north-east coast. The walls had crumbled, the roof had fallen in; but she bought it, and spent the past two years rebuilding it and making this heartbreakingly beautiful villa just for two.

She has leant her artistic eye and the decoration is quite delightful: lots of white and natural shades, textures and touchy-feely fabrics with unusual touches - lamps made from blown-glass terrariums and organic wooden shapes, oriental carvings, antique furniture from different eras, ethnic textiles. And light, lots of light - there are three sets of French windows opening off the bedroom, and more from the sitting room to let in the light and the breeze.

The gardens - half an acre of them - have been done by landscape gardener Jennifer Gay. There's a little pool, several terraces overhung with olive trees, furniture for outdoor living - and it all overlooks the forest, with Agni beach and the hamlet of Rou below, and beyond, the Ionian Sea. As romantic as can be.

Vanity Fair - February 2013

La Residenza, Venice

Opposite St Mark's Square, La Residenza is a a 16th century building newly converted into apartments byFrancesca Bortolotti, who transformed the Bauer Hotel on the St Mark's side and now the Palladio on the Giudecca. La Residenza, also know as Villa F, is reached through the Palladio's three acre garden of roses, lawns, trees and clematis. Francesca has used the heavenly sea-green and deep-pink colours that only Venetians can do; also silks and linens. The windows are enormous: wake and Santa Maria della Salute is virtually on your pillow (uless obscured bythe floating block of flats that is a vile cruise ship). There's a great vaporetto stop right outside. All 11 apartments, with private butler service, are independent, some interconnected, but can be taken as a whole for 38 people. (sjvillas.co.uk)

Conde Nast Traveller - February 2013

La Bergerie de Terre Blanche

There are heaps of dinky boutique boltholes in Provence, but are seven- or 17-year-olds with Hannah Montanna and Xbox games on the brain really welcome? A big-gun hotel would be a much better bet, but what if you want privacy too, and perhps - every mothers dream - a private chef? And even some golf to keep the boys happy? This newly built thriller-villa, just a 40 minute hop from Nice airport, is of grandiose proportions, with a vast amount of space for kicking back. Its in the ground of the Terre Blanche Hotel (formerly a Four Seasons), so you can expect full-throttle services and a flurry of add ons.

The Sunday Times Travel - January 2013

Villa Iriti, Corfu, Sleeps 2

Houses for 2 rarely come with this level of luxury. At Villa Iriti, in the northeast of the island , the pale interiors are open to the rafters and there's handmade mattresses on the super kingsize bed. Outside you'll find terraces (reached by french doors) , a pool, a pergola-covered dinning area with views of Albania . Corfu Airpot a 50 minute drive.

The Independent Magazine - January 2013

Villa Iriti

For a luxury villa for two in Corfu, a roofless ruin recently restored by a British artist. Villa Iriti, in the hills near San Stephano on the island's northeast coast, comes with handmade mattresses in the bedroom, a wet room, and st surrounded by landscaped gardens centred around a dramatically-set swimming pool.

Stylist - Holiday homes for Foodies - January 2013

Domaine de Murtoli

This traditional cottage has bohemian interiors and two kitchens but its the location that will delight culinary connoisseurs . The grounds offer veal and lamb, fruit and veg, olive oil and fresh sea bream - all avaialbel to order.

Evening Standard - Travel 2013- January 2013

Five Islands

'Five Islands' is a large villa fronting Lipa Noi beach on Koh Samui's unspoilt West Coast, named after the Five Islands it overlooks. Contemporary open plan design fades the distinction between indoor and outdoor living, with a large main swimming pool with a bar and sunken stools, and a pull down projection screen to create an outdoor cinema visible from the pool. In addition there is a large BBQ pit and childrens pool, playroom and wooden playground. A beachside lawn edges the living area, topped off by lanscaped gardens decked out with an orchid covered walkway and lilypond. All that and the villa comes with a Thai chef and maid service, with conceirge service available.

The Times - Europe's best 50 beach villas - January 2013

Villa Tatiana, Albufeira

Villa Tatiana is a real find: it is beside the 5-mile beach Praia da Gale with paths down to the sea, and has a large heated pool, its own tennis court and a boules pitch. This beautifully restored house is large and immaculately furnished. It has 6 bedrooms, some with private terraces and sea views. The cook/housekeeper will prepare meals.

Harper’s Bazaar - Travel Hot 100 - January 2013

Villa F

Francesca Bortolotto’s family owns Venice’s resplendent Bauer II Palazzo hotel on the Grand Canal and the Palladio on the Giudecca. Her Villa F, a 16th-century property also on the Giudecca, is divided into 11 private residences. Enchanting and extraordinary, it is your very own personal palazzo, a dream venue for a party or a prosecco-fuelled secret tryst. Reached through tangled roses and lush lawns, it has a contemporary Venetian aesthetic: frescoes and Rubelli silks, but also oversize baths and a meditation pool in the three-acre garden. Don’t pass up an elegant evening at Cip’s at the nearby Hotel Cipriani.
From £970 a night for a one-bedroom apartment, including a butler, WiFi and access to the Palladio and its spa, with SJ Villas (020 7351 6384; www.sjvillas.co.uk).

The Times - Saturday,
December 15 2012

Fort William, Lismore, Co Waterford

There’s more great salmon fishing at this delightful house on the banks of the River Blackwater but it’s Fort William’s interiors that really shine. An immaculate Georgian home, there are five double bedrooms, a wing of five smaller rooms, a lovely drawing room, a well-lit morning room and a games room with a cinema and a billiard table. Head outside and there is a croquet lawn and a tennis court.

Times Luxx, December 2012

Set the scene: a 17-century former olive farm located in 50 hectares of immaculate gardens.

So are we talking olde-worlde rustic chic here? Only if you think 16 rooms, your own tennis court, saline swimming pool, cinema room, ping-pong and pool tables and staff are "rustic".

Oh is it big? Yes. Very. And there are two additional apartments - perfect for the mother-in-law and nanny.

Why would you ever leave? Its tricky. Its worth taking the tram over the Serra de Tramuntana range to Palma while youre there . Also try to get to Deia to dine at El Olivo, one of the best restaurants in Spain

Ultratravel (The Daily Telegraph) - Winter 2012 - TOP 10

The Palm House

"Among the Palm House's full-time staff are two masseuses, two Thai chefs, a resident barman and an executive chef. The villa sleeps up to 20, in 10 villas. Price From $5,000 (about £3,100) per night, including breakfast and daily maid service. Contact sjvillas.co.uk."

London Evening Standard, 26 November 2012

La Bergerie de Terre Blanche

A newly built villa has just become available for rental in the South of France. La Bergerie de Terre Blanche is set within the exclusive 750-acre five-star Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort designed in the style of a provencal village in the hillside of Tourrettes.

The Times, October 2012

Chalet Pearl - Megève

Five minutes from the centre of Megève and close to the Rochebrune cable car, this large chalet has five bedrooms in contemporary Alpine style (think lots of wood but sleeker lines) and four granite and marble en-suites, as well as kitchen, Sitting room library, sauna and hot tub.

Tatler, September 2012

Fort William, Lismore, Ireland

A most elegant house thats a little bit grand and a little bit cosy. Put your best foot forward in the drawing room, tricked out in fancy French boiseries, or both feet up in a sitting room heaped with books and board games...

You don't have to think here at all. When you book through SJ Villas, your brain can be left at Gatwick. Fortget about cooking - the kitchen is bijou, through brilliantly equipped, but then theres the shopping and the washing-up and all that palaver. Instead, get your lunch and supper reservations sorted tickety-boo before you arrive, and swan off to a different delicious taverna twice daily. It sounds exhausting, but its quite the opposite. Sore neck? Two masseuses will arrive before breakfast - the Indian guy gives a mean deep tissue massage, but you can request a gentle rub down too.

Financial Times 'How To Spend It' Magazine

Wallpaper Magazine: July travel news: editor's picks

Palm House, Koh Samui, Thailand

The latest outpost from London-based travel company, SJ Villas, is an indulgent property on the Southern coast of Koh Samui. Set over 12 acres of land with its own private beach, Palm House offers panoramic views over the island’s rolling hills and the sea beyond. Comprising 10 individual villas that sleep two people each, the elegant estate gives traditional Thai décor a modern spin. Guests can make use of the private pool on the beachfront, the clubhouse, games room, cocktail bar and restaurant with 25 members of staff, including three chefs.

Conde Nast - March 2012

Great value villas around the world.

A colonial villa in the Dominican republic.

"Our website is just the shop window' says Menier. 'We always prefer to discuss individual needs and fit clients to the villa, sometimes suggesting places people have never through of'. relaunched in 2007 with business partner Sarah Hutchins, SJ Villas showcases 200 properties on the website with hundreds more available. Among the most recent acquisitions is Casa Diana, which Menier believes to be one of the finest private houses to rent in the Dominican Republic. Built in a grand colonial style with white-coral stone, it sleeps 12 and has wonderful sea views and an infinity pool, and is furnished with four-poster beds and an eclectic collection of antiques. There is a golf course and beach club with a restaurant nearby. Flights are via Antigua.

The Times Luxx - March 2012

Villa Mou Estate, Corfu, San Stefano

This, the unspoilt northeast corner of Corfu, is the place to be seen when the school holidays come around - David Cameron and George Osborne have dipped their toes in the water here. It's ridiculously idyllic: iridescent olive groves, melt-in- your- mouth meze and views of the Albanian mountains across the glass-calm Med.

Telegraph's UltraTravel Magazine - March 2012

La Residenza, Venice.

USP: A 16th-century villa on the Giudecca, with views to St Mark's Square, which has been restored in classical Venetian style by its owner, Francesca Bortolotto Possati. The villa - on the rental market for the first time this year - can be booked either in its entirety or spilt into 11 apartments, sleeping from two to four, from €2,200 (about £1,842) a night.

Details: The palatial rooms are lined with original frescos and furnished with antiques, but have power-showers and Nespresso machines. The Bauer Hotel provides staff and meals, or guests can have ingredients delivered from the Rialto market. The villa's greatest triumph is a three acre garden, with mature tress, rose-beds and a contemporary pool at its centre. A private boat whizzes guests to central Venice.

Not only does this recntly refurbished top-of-the-range Alpine gem boast a small gym, outdoor Jacuzzi and top service (such as a driver to transfer you to the ski lifts), but Chalet Madeleine sleeps eight and includes breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner five nights a week.

Utterly approachable, charming and go-getting, Sarah Hutchins worked in villas for 30 years and Judy worked in marketing before they hooked up several years ago to focus on this. They worked incredibly hard (each seems to have about 35 mobiles and can be reached day or night in both hell and high water) and focus on about 200 villas, mostly in Europe but also in the Caribbean, Bali and South Africa. Some are on the website, lots are kept in a secret drawer. They have one of Annabel Goldsmith's little villas in Southern Spain and David Lean's old house in Provence. Concierge is big for them: Top mixologists, sopranos from La Scala, local vets so the dog can have his chip checked before he comes back to the UK. If you are looking for something specific but cant find it - something wild and surfy in Costa Rica, lets say - they will fix it for you. Stay at Atolikos House, Corfu, where you'll have views that normally only vast pots of money can buy, and you won't have to make a single decision, from the restaurant bookings to the massage requests.

"We are looking for a villa sleeping eight people over Christmas week. Key requirements are a flight no longer than 10 ours, good weather, a decent pool and privacy. Any suggestions?

Sarah Hutchins has 30 years experience in the villa business and co-founded SJ Villas four years ago. It offers luxury villa rentals worldwide.

Antigua immediately springs to mind. Direct flights from London arrive there jut in time for a swim before dinner. But which house? There are so many gorgeous views, but for your particular needs I'd recommend Villa Bleu on Proctors Point at Turtle Bay. It is up on the cliffs overlooking the entrance to Falmouth Bay, and nowhere could be more private. The house runs the length of the cliff garden, with a large master suite overlooking the infinity pool at one end and guest rooms in a series of connected 'cottages' at the other. The ensemble is surrounded by a mass of bright pink and white bougainvillea. Two pretty pavilions halfway down the cliff can be reached by a flights of steps: one is a gym, the other a 'gin and tonic' pavilion in which to watch the sunset or enjoy the sea breezes. there are views of the ocean and bay from every part of the house, with no one else in sight except the lovely housekeeper to rustle up the G&Ts. Over Christmas the villa, which sleeps 10, costs US$2,500 per night.

Evenving Standard - 13 June 2011

Basquing in the sun

Destination: French Basque Country
For family holidays in rental houses, the less places there are for sand and ice cream to hide, the better. Enter the recently renovated La Maison des Champs , which sleeps 12, in Saubrigues in the French Basque Country. A light, open-plan modern living space, the almost sparse interiors are cheerfully livened up with splashes of greens and reds. There is a home cinema, a second TV room, a snooker room and a playroom with toys and table football. The high-spec kitchen includes a large Gaggenau fridge and freezer with ice machine, induction hob, oven and steam oven. There's also the now expected wi-fi, Sky television and useful highchairs and cots. The grassy grounds hold a large, gated swimming pool, with a shallow beach, sunbathing terrace and a Boules pitch. Nearby lies the endless stretch of surfer-strewn sand, Hossegor, with Biarritz, the nearest airport, 30 minutes' drive away.

And in Ibiza, Casa Vadella has all bright white contemporary interiors, multi level terraces, and a saline infinity pool that wraps around the house. All that's missing is a DJ, of which there's no shortage on the island.

If you are looking to rent a holiday property
worldwide, tune your radar to the finest residences in the Caribbean and Europe.

A Château in St Tropez
SJ Villas has a distinctive selection of villas
available to rent, and is delighted to add a new
one to its books. Le Grand Château St Tropez is
situated in the heart ofSt Tropez within secluded
and manicured gardens. The main château has
four large suites but there is an additional house
in the grounds that sleeps another eight. The
chic boutiques, restaurants and bars are just a
walk away, and entry to them can be arranged
through the château's exclusive concierge.

A Sicilian Farmhouse Estate
Ever dreamt of enjoying long summer days on an
estate set among orange groves? SJ Villas brought
this romantic vision to reality when it recently
added a large Sicilian farmhouse to its portfolio.
The charming house, which sleeps 16, sits amid
exotic landscaped gardens and offers breathtaking
views across surrounding orange groves to
Mount Etna. Along with a swimming pool and tennis
court, the house also comes with an experienced
cook who prepares traditional Sicilian
dishes with fresh, local ingredients.

"When the late British filmmaker Sir David Lean (Dr Zhivago; Lawrence of Arabia) fell in love with Moulin du Jadinier, a dilpidated fifteenth- century stone mill house in the South of France, he took the same meticulous approach to restoring it as he did to making his epic films. Now, after giving it a stylish update, its current owners are making this legendary property available for rental. Perched on seven lush acres outside the medieval village of Mouans-Sartoux, the house sleeps up to nine guests in four luxurious doubles and a single, including a spectacular master suite with an enormous canopy bed and a private patio. Guests can swim in the large green-tiled heated pool enclosed by stone walls or wander off to one of the mosaic-pebbled terraces, shaded by ancient trees and set with neatly trimmed potted plants - ideal for reading or alfresco dining. Nearby, Provence's loveliest villages await discovery by car or even on foot: Mougins, for example, is a three-mile walk along the Siagne Canal, with ravishing views of cypress trees and lavender fields en route. Rate for one-week rental for up to nine people starts at $17,000."

Read the complete article here or have a look at the
property on our site here

Vogue - April 2011

Get ahead of the hordes and book a chic summer villa.

"Ca's Pierre, in the pretty town of Fornalutx in Majorca, shares the laid-back Balearic vibe. The roof terrace has 360-degree views of the Alfabia mountains; wake up early for hikes into the orange groves, swim in the heat ofthe day and then retire to the shade of date palms in the delightfully tangled garden. Sleeps eight"

Read the complete article here or have a look at the
property on our site here.

Evening Standard - 21 February 2011

"Le Grand Chateâu St Tropez is now available for rental for the first time through SJ Villas. The listed, restored Belle Epoque chateâu in the centre of St Tropez village is comprised of the main house and La Maison d'Etoiles, also in the grounds, both sleeping eight in 4 king-sized suites with dressing rooms and marble and granite bathrooms. The entrance is fittingly grand, reached by a palm tree-lined drive set in manicured gardens with a large fibre optic-lit swimming pool. Inside are exposed beams, oak floors and heavily draped floor-to-ceiling windows, lots of glamorous white furniture and twinkling chandeliers. If all this isn't enough to entertain, there's an in-house cinema and the resort's famous nightlife nearby"

Three nights from £656pp based on 16 sharing including breakfast and the services of a housekeeper, a gardener and a concierge.

Read the complete article here or have a look at the
property on our site here

Financial Times - How to Spend it - February 5 2011

"Euro skiers, meanwhile, are still flocking to the blingest of Trois Vallées jewels, Courchevel, where Chalet Blanch is another stunning new contemporary villa in the SJ portfolio - purpose built last year with 6 bedrooms, multiple living spaces with open fireplaces spread over 5 floors, and all the expected bells and whistles.

SJ's other very desirable new-to-the-market property is in low-key Ile de Ré - an absurdly tasteful mas in the Unesco designated port of Saint- Martin-de-Ré. The centuries-old facade of the Logis St Martin hides a rigorously modern interior and state-of-the-art amenities, including a home cinema for rainy afternoons (there's a full sized boules pitch for the sunny ones)."

The Kassiopia Estate: Atolikos House (sleeps 6) and Cassiopeia House (Sleeps 14).

Because these two houses, a few minutes' walk from each other on a five-acre estate, can be rented individually or together (at a discount), group numbers can vary. Both are new to SJ Villas' book, and although you're paying a premium for location (the wooded north-east of this island is, of course, the plum summertime spot for the well-heeled British establishment), you're also buying stunning sea views, wraparound terraces, open-plan entertaining areas and direct access to the sea (much sort after in this area). A private jetty means you can save on car hire costs and travel everywhere by boat. The interiors are cool and sophisticated (white sofas, glass-topped coffee tables, large ceiling fans, contemporary artworks).

This beautifully converted French mill was once the retreat of legendary British film director Sir David Lean. The film-maker, who was best known for directing all-time classic movies like Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, described it as "somewhere to lie down in the grass under an olive tree and look up through its silver green leaves and gaze at the blue sky."

The house, Moulin du Jardinier, was purchased by Lean as a ruin in 1987 and completely renovated over two years. It is now owned by a Danish couple who bought it from Sir David's widow in 2007, who have further enriched the property with Provencal antique furniture and simple Scandinavian furnishings.

The house is set in seven acres of mature landscaped gardens in the hills of Mouans Sartoux, 20 minutes from Cannes in the south of France. The impressive layout inside sleeps nine people, and includes a huge vaulted drawing room and dining room for entertaining.

In the gardens, a heated swimming pool with green mosaic tiles is nestled among the many flower terraces. There is also a pool house with a full kitchen, a barbecue and dining area.

A housekeeping couple live in a small cottage in the grounds and provide a maid service and help in the kitchen six days a week. A cook and a chauffeur can be provided on request.

A week at the Moulin du Jardinier with SJ Villas costs from £1,177 per person, based on nine people sharing, including maid service. For reservations call SJ Villas on 020 7801 4010 or visit www.sjvillas.co.uk

Our complete guide to booking a villa or cottage in Italy, including luxury options and cheaper accommodation ideas in Tuscany, Umbria, Sicily and elsewhere.

Summer 2010 sold better than many villa owners expected, so small price increases have crept in for high season. Villas in central Tuscany continue to command a premium of 30 per cent over neighbouring Lazio and Umbria. The real bargains are still found in the lesser-known Adriatic provinces of Le Marche, Abruzzo and Puglia. In some sections we have picked out for special mention tour operators offering programmes that we consider particularly interesting or good value.

The perfect Provence villa
Sir David Lean, the late filmmaker behind
classics such as Lawrence of Arabi and
Doctor Zhivago, described his 15th-century
French retreat as somewhere he could simply
“lie down in the grass under an olive
tree and look up through its silver green
leaves and gaze at the sky”. This year you
can do the same – the house, a converted
mill set in seven acres of grounds, is available
to rent for the first time. The Moulin
du Jardinier sleeps nine and has a pool, a
huge vaulted dining room, beautiful gardens
and views over the valley below.
From £10,593 per week; www.sjvillas.co.uk

"End the year on a high at this breathtaking Thai villa. Based around a series of pavilions, it has every luxury you can think of, massage room, games room, a fleet of staff, and an infinty pool that overlooks the Andaman Sea. Take advantage of the nearby Andara resort and its renowned Spa. From £1,065 pp based on 12 sharing for seven nights."

"If snow isnt your thing book now for a spring break at the glorious San Giorgo Estate near Catania in Sicily. Set in an organic orange grove with views across Mount Etna, the house sleeps 16 and has a pool, tennis court and, most importantly, a local cook to whip up some fabulous Sicilian dinners. Seven nights from £648 per person B&B, based on 16 people sharing."

"Why not see in the New Year in the sunshine at SJ Villas' latest property, the spectacular Tamarind House in the foothills of Kao Krating, near Pattaya, a 90 minute drive from Bangkok. Sleeping up to 32 people from as little as £52pp per night (B&B; all other meals cost from £3pp), the house boasts a swimming pool, tennis court, a white-sand beach ten minutes drive away, 15 full-time staff, including cook and a driver, as well as on-call babysitters, massage therapists and even a tennis coach."

Private paradise. No need to reserve a lounger - it's all yours for a week

"Holiday-home specialists SJ Villas has beautiful, high-spec houses on the islands of Mykonos, Hydra and Cephalonia. We'd line up to stay in Villa Olivia on Cephalonia, which sleeps eight and is set in a private olive estate."

Staying in a private villa is one of the most luxurious ways to holiday. We round up the flashiest pads available.

Villa Guiseppina, Italy
The villa on the shores of Lake Como has recently undergone a multimillion pound transformation. Designers from Milan fashion house Etno have created contemporary-classic chic interiors - there are seven bedrooms in total. There's also an infinity pool, a spa, a jacuzzi and a fully equipped gym. A fleet of staff is available 24/7 as well as a private Riva boat and chauffeur-driven car for when you want to pop over to nearby Milan for some retail therapy.

"One stately home that has just come on the market is Fort William, a Georgian estate on 400 acres overlooking the Blackwater Valley in Co Waterford, “available for private rental for the first time” says the press release. To let through UK company SJ Villas, it provides a ghillie, who can arrange salmon fishing on the River Blackwater, five double en suite bedrooms and a further wing of five smaller bedrooms and a self-contained flat suitable for a nanny. There is a French-panelled drawingroom, study, morning room, diningroom, kitchen (with Aga), and a games room with a cinema and billiard table. Outside there’s a croquet lawn and a tennis court.

For a week Fort William costs €16,701 (£13,944) or €1,392 (£1,162) per person based on 12 people sharing."

Read the complete article here or have a look at the
property on our site here.

The Times - 24 April, 2010

Schools out - Ideas for adventurous families.

Gulp fresh mountain air in the Swiss Alps at the resort of Crans Montana. Take mountain bikes up on ski lifts and hurtle back down, or ride easier special trails. As well as waterskiing, swimming and kayaking in lakes there is skiing on the Plaine Morte glacier plateau. Apartment Curling sleeps 6, is from £2,500 a week including maid service.

SJ Villas features Villa Giuseppina from £626pp per night based on 14 people sharing. The price includes continental breakfast, soft drinks, daily housekeeping, a chef, a chauffeur-driven Mercedez benz GL500 and a skippered Riva motorlaunch.

We want to book a really special private villa in the South of France, or possibly Italy, in July. It must have a pool and sleep at least 10 and, most importnatly, come with a chef. Any recommendtions?

"Should a respite from the swell of Fair attendees prove necessary, an 18th century villa on the shores of Lake Como has just become available to let. Vill Guiseppina sits on the lake's western shore overlooking the town of bellagio. Seven Bedrooms, two large living rooms, a dedicated family floor and a discrete spa and sauna are all the work of the design team at Etro. There's also a Riva yacht and a host in the form of Silvano Giraldin, former maitre d' and manager at le Gavroche in London".

"SJ Villas (020 7801 4010; www.sjvillas.co.uk) is offering seven nights in the Casa Dali, a traditional house in the town of Cadaques, the Costa Brava home of Salvador Dali. The house has its own garden and pool, and overlooks the town, with views of the cathedral and the sea, and is two-minutes' walk from the beach. The villa costs £565 per person, based on nine sharing, accommodation only "

"SJ Villas - Some of the best houses available for rent on the Amalfi coast and Capri. Sumptuous Villa Giuseppina on Lake Como comes with chauffeur-driven Merc and skippered launch: £2,700 per person per week if 14 sharing. ".

"Ibiza: SJ Villas has exclusive access to a selection of seriously dreamy properties around the world. Can Claudia near St Agnes, famed for its valley of almond trees, is an Ibizan party pad owned by composer George Solti's daughter Claudia (hence the name), who is building an outdoor cinema in the forest ths summer. Design delights include a curved infinity pool, yoga tipee, flat-screen TVs, digital projector, iPod docking stations and indoor and outdoor stereo. Three double bedrooms include a Balinese-style one with an indoor/outdoor bathroom. The property borders a conservation area with a cove where boat trips can be taken, and has views to the sea. Previous guests include fashion designer Alice Temperley and model Jacquetta Wheeler."

Villa 9: La Galine near St Tropez, France. Sleeps 14
This villa ticks all the boxes for one or two families holidaying with teenagers, or for a group of friends who want an affordable base near the most glamorous stretch of the French Riviera. The main house sleeps eight, the guest cottage sleeps four and there's also a small single room for a cook or nanny on a lower level. Built on a wooded hillside in a couple of hectares, it has a heated pool, AstroTurf tennis court, boules pitch and table tennis.

As demand for extraordinary villa rentals intensifies, Sarah Hutchins and Judith Menier are two names whose numbers you might care to add to your Blackberry. Their company, SJ Villas (www.sjvillas.co.uk), represents some of the most desirable privately owned holiday homes in Europe, The Caribbean and beyond.

Sarah Hutchinson, of SJ Villas, which specialises in top-end properties, tells much the same story. "Bookings are coming in much later, and, as a result, we are finding that many owners, on our recommendation, are open to negotiation." she says. "We are getting some great deals for our clients, even in peak holiday weeks.".